Bar Glass Basics: What You Need to Stock Your Home Bar

If you look in the glassware section of any department store or through the pages of any bar supply catalogue, you will find bar glasses of every shape and size. It can be tempting to order dozens of different bar glasses, contemplating all of the bizarre and exotic drinks you will serve in them. However, you do not need to go to the expense to get what you need. Here is a list of the basic bar glasses and what you can do with them.

High Balls

High balls are tall, straight-sided glasses that are the workhorses of the bar. You can serve almost any mixed drink in a high ball including rum and coke, Long Island Iced Tea, vodka and orange juice, and any blender or fruit drink. In a pinch, they can serve as beer glasses although most are less than a 12 ounce size.

Low Balls

These are the short, stubby brothers to the high balls. These are useful for smaller size mixed drinks but can also be used for brandies and liqueurs, although wine glasses or snifters are preferred for those.

Red Wine Glasses

Red wine glasses are larger than white wine glasses and often have a wider brim as well. This is to allow red wine to be swirled in the glass and the tannins and aromatics to be released. There is no rule saying that white wine cannot be served in these glasses though. If you do not have fancier glasses for blender or "girly" drinks, a red wine glass fits the bill just fine. Serving ice water in large red wine glasses also brings some elegance to a dinner party.

White Wine Glasses

White wine glasses have a smaller bowl than their red wine counterpart and the brim is often tighter. This allows the delicate character of white wines to be captured momentarily before tasting. These smaller wine glasses can also be used in the place of liqueur glasses as an elegant alternative.

Beer Glasses

If you ask ten beer lovers what their favorite glass is, you'll get ten different answers. Some beer drinkers are adamant that a beer glass must be curved inward at the top and some say anything goes as long as it is frosted. The two basic beer glasses are pints and half-pints. Traditional English ales are served almost exclusively in pint "sleeves" (keep in mind that an Imperial pint and an American pint are not the same measures). Pilsners are often served in tall, thin glasses, while fruited beers can be served in large wine glasses. Regardless of the style of beer glass you choose, ensure that they are bar-quality and made from thick glass to avoid chipping and breakage.

Martini Glasses

While not completely necessary for a home bar, martinis are a popular drink and nothing shows them off like a proper martini glass. You will likely need fewer of these than the other basic bar glasses, but it is nice to have some on hand. Martini glasses come in many different sizes. Choose a medium sized glass with a straight stem for the average drinker.

Shot Glasses

Shot glasses serve two purposes. They can be a measure for pouring liquor or they can hold a shot of liquor to serve. Make sure the shot glass is durable as they are easy to drop and break. If using as a measure, either purchase shot glasses with measures marked onto them or pre-measure so that you know how much alcohol you are pouring. You don't want to think a shot glass is an ounce only to find out near the end of a party that you have been serving doubles all night.